Electrolytic apparatus.



No. 841,720; PATENTED JAN: 22, 1907.

J. H. RYAN. ELEGTROLYTIG APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-1,1906.

- useful mprovements in Electrolytic Appation.

solutions are prepared by leaching ores con-,

- of wood,-extendi'ng from the bottom to a inch in each foot, whereb the rate of flow ited isseparated from solution by electroly- 2 5 UNITED stra ns P NT Ora-ea JOHN H. R AN, or Formulae.onnooixj .To all 1071/0711, it lH/tj/ concern: i

Be it known that I, J onn H. RYAN, a citi zen of the United States, residing at Port-3 land, m the county of Multnomah and State of Ore on, have nvented certain new and ratus, of which the following'is a specifica The object oft-his invention is to provide a simple and; effective apparatus for electrodeposltmg metals from their solutions and more particularly from their sulfate or sulfite solutions prepared in accordance. with the method claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 303,664, filed March 1, 1906. Said taining copper or copper and nickel or nickel and cobat or cobalt after a preliminary treatment by roasting to bring the metals into a readily-soluble condition with a solu tion of sulfuric or sulfurous acid preferably prepared from the gases derived from the roasting operation. The metal to be depos-' sis, using insoluble anodes and cathodes consisting usually of the metal to be deposited. v

For a full understandingof my invention reference is made to the accdmpanying draw; ing, showing my improved apparatus, parts be ng broken away. 1. a

1. re resents a continuous-flow leachingtank 0 any suitable type, and 2, is a valved discharge-pipe for the clear metal-bearing solutions preparedtherein.

3 is the electrodepositingtank,

which -may gated trough, as shown, the discharge end of the trough being situated over the sumptank. ,The electrodepositing-tank is divided into a plurality of independent but communicating compartments by partitions-4,' also point slightly below'the normal solutionev l. The tank 3 is preferably inclined in the general direction-of flow of the solution,- the preferred inclination being about one may be increased to such egree a s to effectively agitate the solution during deposition, or each partition 4 may be made slightly lower than the preceding one in the lineot' f flow, as shown. Each of the independent compartments so formed is provided with a draw-off cock 5, through which its contents ELECTROLYTIC Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 1. 1906. Serial No. 303,663.}

7 the quantity of solution in circuit.

bars are clamped in positien,, i;one of the clamps being indicatedat'lri. The anodesq with the anode bussj bar13 and are freevto APPARATUS.

may be dischargedinto a trough or launder] 6, leading tothe sump A pump 3 erranged to return thesolution from the suinp' 7 to the lcaching-tankl. The jn'ojvisionof" separate draw-oil cocks 5 is advantageous," for the reason that it permits the use of'aiiy portion of the apparatus "corresponding to Each of the inde endent compartments of the tank 3 is provi ed with a" deymn'dingpan tition 9', which is centrally dis-pewter all: compartments except-the first, the purpose; of the partitions 9 being to directthe electrolyte in a downward and upward course past the electrodes in each conipartmentc- The.* first partition 9 is illustratedw as adjacent tof the end of the tank 3 to providea f-rce inlet; thereto.

- The cathodes 10 oonsist,preferabl ,'of thin 75 f sheets of the metal to be depositec and-are centrally supported in electrical Contact with "the cathode buss-bars 12 between the anodes 11 11. Preferably the cathode supporting;

11 may be of lead or other suitable cond-ucta-s, ive material substantially unattached by the electrolyte and are supported in contact 5 slide thereon to permit adjustmentof position relative to the cathodes.

In. the deposition of-rritalsfioin theiri so-r y lutions by means ofirls lu ble anodes there; occurs a progressive imp, verishment of. the' solution, and in order to insure the highest efiiciency of operation and .substantialpni formity in character and *quantity of (10- posited metal throughout Xthe electrodepositing-tank it is desirable :that the electrodes should be more closely; aced in proportion as the electrolyte beco' es depleted of metalthatris to, say, the; iodes and cathodes shouldbe more'widely s" rated at the inlet .end of a continuous-flow electrodepositing-tankthan at its effluent end, such arrangement peing clearly shown in the drawings. 1 The efiectof this arrangement Where the electrodes are connected electrically in multiple is to compensate for variations in composition of the electrolyte from end to end of the depositing-tank and to in sure a substantially equal deposition of metal throughout the, same. It will be understood that it is not necessary in the practice of my invention that the solution should be completely exhausted of metal, but merely shown each anode-supporting bar as provided at each end with a hand-lever, the hand-leand may be adjusted with respect thereto;

electrolyte, electrodes trodes to. adjust their positions, substantially respective y, and so connected bya link 19 anodes on opposite sides of a cathode shall at desirable.

that sufficient metal should be deposited to restore the solvent character of the solution. The circulation of the solution is continued until the extraction of the metals from the ore in the leaching-tank is substantially com plete.

I prefer to provide means whereby eachpair of anodes 11 11 may be simultaneously and equally adjusted, 1 do not limit myself to any particular means for effecting this adjustme'nt; but as one such means I have vers 15 6 at adjacentaends of a pair of anodebars bem pivoted, as shown at 17 and 18,

as to secureuniformity of movement of the two bars either toward or from the central cathode. This arrangement insuresthat the all times be equally spaced therefrom, thereby-securing an equal deposition on opposite sides of the cathode. The arrangement further permits their ready adj ustment.

It' will be obvious that the cathodes may be located on opposite sides of a central anode but I consider such arrangement to be less Iclaim- 1. An electrolytic apparatus comprising a trough adapted for conveying astream of therein connected electrically inmultiple, and means operating simultaneously on a plurality of said elecas describedi 2. An electrolytic apparatus comprisinga tank having inlet and outlet for electrolyte, means for directing the electrolyte in a tortuous path therethrough, electrodes thereinconnected electrically in multiple, andmeans operating sil'nultaneously on a plurality of said'electrodes to adjust their positions, substantially as described.

3. An electrolytic apparatus comprising a tank, inlet and outlet for electrolyte at opposite ends thereof, and electrodes therein connected electrically in multiple and progressively more closely spaced in the general line of flow of the electrolyte, substantially as described.

4. An electrolytic apparatus comprising a tank, inlet and outlet for electrolyte at opposite ends thereof, means for directing the electrolyte in a tortuous path therethrough, and electrodes in said tank connected electrically in multiple and progressively more closely spaced in the general line-of flow of I the electrolyte, substantially as described.

5. An electrolytic apparatus comprising a trough adapted for conveying a stream of electrolyte, partitions therein dividing the.

leaching-tank, a continuous-flow depositing-- tank, a sumptank, connect ons between said tanks, partitions in the depositing-tank dividing the same into independent but,communicating compartments, anodes and cathodes in each of said com artments, and means in connection with said compartments for discharging the contents thereof into said sump-tank, substantially as described.

' In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN H. RYAN. Witnesses:

C. W. FOWLER, J. B.;HILL. 

